Ain't Nobody Here Posted May 20, 2012 Share Posted May 20, 2012 (edited) My girls woke me at 4.30am squawking, which I put down to the early light (rare these days as it's usually raining/foggy). I went down and let them out (I was worried about the neighbours being woken) and went back to bed. I was then woken by more squawking at 4.55am and looked out of the window to see a fox inside their freerange area . I rushed out and it ran off, scrambling up and over a small wall (which had chicken wire on top but it was squashed down, I later found). I could only find 4 of my girls so thought ittle Layla had been taken. Saw the fox in the field, emptyhanded, so did a quick search and found her under a bush in a mangled heap and not moving . I managed to reach her but to my amazement she was alive . She has a tiny wound, which has barely broken the skin and loads of feathers coming out but otherwise seems unharmed . A few minutes later I saw the fox in my neighbour's front garden . No freeranging for my girls any more, I fear . I can't believe my stupidity in letting them out . Two of them had stayed up on high perches which I thought was odd but just thought it was a bit early for them to be up and about. I was more concerned about the neighbours. First time ever (in over 4 years) we've had a fox in the garden. Edited June 2, 2012 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheekymonkey68 Posted May 20, 2012 Share Posted May 20, 2012 Well done for saving your girls! Hope Layla, perks up after her near miss. unfortunately the foxes are just getting too cheeky by far these days, I had one round at 10.30 am on a saturday the other week.... no free ranging unless im around now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted May 20, 2012 Share Posted May 20, 2012 Very scary for you and your girls. Thank goodness only one was slightly injured. I hope she makes a full recovery. We have lots of foxes around here so mine don't tend to get to free range much at all any more (especially since we had two foxes coming in together to the garden ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chestnutmare Posted May 20, 2012 Share Posted May 20, 2012 That was close! What a scare for you. I think you are lucky you chickens weren't taken. We chased a fox before now but Mr Fox was not leaving without the chicken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted May 20, 2012 Share Posted May 20, 2012 Thank goodness your girls had such a lucky escape. Really hope little Layla gets over the shock - you too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted May 20, 2012 Share Posted May 20, 2012 Poor little Layla, I hope she soon recovers. I must admit I have never seen a fox in the day in my garden, but that doesn't mean he wouldn't chance his luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheeky Chooky Posted May 20, 2012 Share Posted May 20, 2012 Scary Glad all is well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted May 20, 2012 Share Posted May 20, 2012 Wow what a close shave! Thank goodness no girls lost, and hope your little one makes a full recovery. It's a timely reminder for me though, as I think I have got a bit complacent again lately, since we upped all our defences after our last fox sighting I haven't seen a fox in the garden, and although I only free range the girls when I am around, just lately I have let them out and then been busy with stuff in the house so not really watching for them. You have reminded me it's not safe, ever! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted May 20, 2012 Share Posted May 20, 2012 Oh no What a terrible thing to happen. Hope Layla makes a full recovery. Too scary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bucklamp Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 Phew! Lucky for you. It must be something to do with the weather or something since we had a fox in the garden last night for the first time ever, fortunately after we had put the girls in - but if we had been 10 minutes later ... who knows? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 Foxes are always around - if you live in an urban area, it's very unlikely that there isn't one nearby. I have not seen one in my garden for a few years - but every morning when I go up to the chicken-run I can smell fox, and see evidence that one has been around. I have no doubt that it spends some time every night checking my defences and drooling over my chickens. It really isn't safe to rely on actual sightings, I think it's best to assume that there is a fox and act accordingly. How is Layla? hope she is recovering from such a nasty ordeal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted May 21, 2012 Author Share Posted May 21, 2012 Layla is remarkable . She doesn't appear any the worse for wear and even laid an egg today (she only lays about once a week anyway, so it's even more amazing ). Thanks for all your good wishes, I'll pass them on to her . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KimmyCustard Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 My aunty lost 4 of her old girls to the fox 2 weeks ago and she had electric fencing round their pen . I havent seen her to find out how the fox got in but he arrived on Wednesday morning all killed another 12 girls . She has spoken to the farmers nearby and they have all been complaining that there are loads of foxes about this year, they are beginning to feed their cubs and are going far and wide in the search for food. Beware people - they are all around and not seeing any at all (as I havent) doesnt mean they are not lurking and waiting....... PS Hope your little one is OK ANH. x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted May 21, 2012 Author Share Posted May 21, 2012 That's awful, KC . I feel really guilty that I'd let them out and not realised it was distress squawking . However, if I hadn't rushed out so quickly it could have been a real tragedy . You really wouldn't know Layla had been through such a trauma - she's a little trooper . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted May 22, 2012 Share Posted May 22, 2012 Gosh what a scare ANH, thank goodness you acted so quickly. Glad to hear that Layla is ok after her ordeal. A friend of mine lost her Orps to the fox last week. She lets them FR and has never been bothered by a fox before, she is in very rural Rutland. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted June 2, 2012 Author Share Posted June 2, 2012 Glad to report that Layla is none the worse for her ordeal . I've foxproofed the weak point in our garden with a single fence panel from Wickes and a couple of left over planks from a gate so will feel a little more confident letting them out while I'm around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 Thank goodness they are ok xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 Glad she got over it. Fort Knox! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 Pheeew!So glad you (and Layla) had a lucky escape. Having lost a girl to a fox 5 years ago, my poor chooks only ever get to free-range when I'm in the garden, sadly. They have to stay in their WIR at all other times. I haven't seen a fox for a while, but do get a whiff now and again, so know they are still around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
